Winter 2011
Ask A Parent Advisor: Getting Ready for the Holidays
Question:
My daughter was recently diagnosed with autism. My family is getting ready to go home for the holidays and I am really nervous about how my extended family might respond to my daughter. Any suggestions?
Answer:
Holidays with extended family can be stressful for any family, whether or not a child has a disability, but holidays can also be a time to celebrate your family and the traditions you have! Planning ahead will go a long way in making the time with your family enjoyable for everyone.
Writing an Inclusive Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
Guest Authors: Christi Kasa and Julie Causton-Theoharis
The development of the IEP is a critical step that a student’s team takes to communicate goals and share strategies that will support the student to reach those goals. Careful planning of the IEP meeting is essential when designing the services needed to support the child successfully. The team should take time when planning for the IEP to listen and learn from each other. When the team is focused on planning for an inclusive placement, they should focus on including as much information as possible in the IEP about the necessary supports needed so the child can participate successfully in the general education classroom (Clark, 2000; Kasa-Hendrickson, Buswell, & Harmon, 2009).
Cómo Escribir un Plan Educativo Individualizado (IEP, por sus siglas en inglés)
Autores Invitados: Christi Kasa y Julie Causton-Theoharis
El desarrollo del IEP es un paso crítico que puede tomar el equipo del estudiante para comunicar las metas y compartir las estrategias que lo apoyarán para que logre dichas metas. La planeación cuidadosa de la reunión del IEP es esencial cuando se diseñan los servicios necesarios para apoyar exitosamente al niño. Durante la planeación del IEP, los miembros del equipo deben dedicar tiempo a escuchar y aprender entre ellos mismos. Cuando el equipo se enfoca en planear una colocación inclusiva, éste debe incluir la mayor información posible en el IEP acerca de los apoyos que necesitará el niño para poder participar con éxito en el aula de educación general (Clark, 2000; Kasa-Hendrickson, Buswell, y Harmon, 2009).
PEAK's 2012 Conference on Inclusive Education
Opening Doors to Curriculum, Classmates, and Community
February 9-11, 2012, Denver, CO
Register Today!
You don’t want to miss this! For more information visit www.peakparent.org/registration.asp or call 800.284.0251
New! Online Only Brochure for 2012! Are you looking for information and the brochure for PEAK's statewide and national conference? This year we are sending a postcard out to remind folks but are putting the information that used to be in the brochure online so we can provide real-time information and updates to you!
About the 2012 Conference on Inclusive Education:
Self-Advocates Corner: Focus on Individuality
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"Our children are individuals. They can’t be summed up by one little box that says Down syndrome. They are a multitude of other things." -Richard Bailey, Parent of a Daughter with Down syndrome, and Photographer with Shifting Perspective |
This edition of our Self-Advocate’s Corner focuses on an essential part of advocacy, namely individuality.
Recently, PEAK Parent Center came across a wonderful video from the Dublin Arts Council that highlights Shifting Perspectives an expansive touring photography exhibition based out of the United Kingdom.
The OSEP Spanish Glossary Project
Between 2010-2011, the US Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) funded the development of an online and print Spanish Glossary. The OSEP Spanish Glossary was developed by SPAN, New Jersey’s Parent Training and Information Center. SPAN also serves as the Parent Technical Assistance Center for Region 1 of the National Parent Center Network.
It is essential that all families participate actively in decisions related to their child’s education. The language and terminology that exists within Early Intervention and Special Education law is very complex and can be difficult to understand even in its original language of English.
Serving on Groups that Make Decisions: A Guide for Families
Do you want to get involved in a decision-making group but aren't sure which group would be a good fit for you? Are you tired of feeling like the token parent representative instead of an active member of a decision-making group?
If so, there is a new excellent resource for you! WI FACETS and the Parent Leadership Hub of the Statewide Personnel Development Grant have a new resource guidebook titled Serving On Groups That Make Decisions: A Guide for Families. This guidebook was created to support parents, educators, service providers, and other professionals serving on decision-making groups.
The contents of this e-Newsletter were developed under a grant from the US Department of Education, #H328M110023. However, those contents do notnecessarily represent the policy of the US Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. Project Officer, Carmen Sanchez.